Cork-based post punk quartet Dead School released their new single ‘Incisions’ , Friday, April 6th. Another furious track from the band, Incisions comes as the band finish up a 11-show tour of the UK with The Frank and Walters, Whipping Boy, and Tieranniesaur.
‘Incisions’ is another in the three single stretch that the band have recorded with producer Christian Best and it moves the band further towards the refining of their sound.
It always seems to be the way with new bands. Their first release is euphoric; a statement of who the band are and very often it rings true. The second release builds on that success and draws out the band’s sound. Then, very often, the band starts to falter slightly. They have to write more, and look at their sound properly for the first time, and sometimes there’s an air of trepidation about the later releases. This is what’s happening here.
Dead School haven’t changed. They still have their fury, their brash vocals, and their crashing drums. Cathal Maher is still battering his guitar. But some of the melody has been lost in the transition between 3:17 and Incisions. You keep expecting the chorus to rise up more than it does, especially given the tension of the pre-chorus. James McDonald’s vocal are thrown fully into the chorus vocal, but it just doesn’t hit the notes it could have.
That said, Dead School are still within a very strong style and Incisions is more of the same, in a good way. You can look forward to their next refinement…